Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs

This study investigated the effects of a low-protein diet without soybean meal on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma-free amino acids, and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 81 barrows and 81 gilts ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) of 150 days old with similar body weights...

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Main Authors: Bobo Deng, Litong Wang, Xiaomei Jiang, Tianyong Zhang, Mingfei Zhu, Guoshui Wang, Yizhen Wang, Yuanzhi Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/828
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author Bobo Deng
Litong Wang
Xiaomei Jiang
Tianyong Zhang
Mingfei Zhu
Guoshui Wang
Yizhen Wang
Yuanzhi Cheng
author_facet Bobo Deng
Litong Wang
Xiaomei Jiang
Tianyong Zhang
Mingfei Zhu
Guoshui Wang
Yizhen Wang
Yuanzhi Cheng
author_sort Bobo Deng
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the effects of a low-protein diet without soybean meal on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma-free amino acids, and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 81 barrows and 81 gilts ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) of 150 days old with similar body weights (103.64 ± 3.65 kg) were selected and randomly allocated into three groups with three replicates in each group and 18 finishing pigs in each pen (4.5 m × 8.5 m). Three dietary formulations were established in this experiment: (1) 14% crude protein, and 14% soybean meal for the control group diet (CON); (2) 13% crude protein, and 7% soybean meal for half soybean meal group diet (HSB); (3) 12% crude protein, and 0% soybean meal for soybean meal free group diet (SBF). Three groups of diets were equal to standard ileal digestible amino acids and swine net energy. Results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in final body weight, average daily feed intake, and average daily gain in CON, HSB, and SBF groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, the feed conversion rate was higher in the SBF but the differences were not significant (<i>p</i> = 0.08). (2) Compared with the CON group, the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and calcium in the SBF group was significantly increased by 6.42%, 4.78%, and 9.82%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). However, ether extract and phosphorus did not differ significantly between the three groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). All groups had no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes (<i>p</i> > 0.05). (3) Compared with the CON group, the plasma-free contents of glycine and glutamate in the HSB and SBF groups were significantly decreased by 42.90% and 37.06%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the contents of plasma-free histidine and valine in the SBF group were significantly decreased by 16.72% and 16.21%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the HSB group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Compared with the CON group, plasma-free isoleucine content in the HSB group was significantly decreased by 50.39% (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the SBF group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). (4) Backfat thickness in the SBF group was significantly increased by 3.53% compared with that in the CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the HSB group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Compared with the CON group, lean meat percentage in the HSB and SBF groups showed a tendency to increase and decrease, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.09). (5) The urine ammonia-nitrogen content of finishing pigs in the SBF group was significantly lower than that of the CON (<i>p</i> < 0.05), at a rate of 28.80%. H<sub>2</sub>S content in the urine of the SBF group tended to decrease (<i>p</i> = 0.06). This study demonstrates that a low-protein diet without soybean meal can be applied as a dietary strategy for finishing pigs with no adverse influence on growth performance.
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spelling doaj-art-635d7f4588874d3689cff239bee2df442025-08-20T02:41:58ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115682810.3390/ani15060828Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing PigsBobo Deng0Litong Wang1Xiaomei Jiang2Tianyong Zhang3Mingfei Zhu4Guoshui Wang5Yizhen Wang6Yuanzhi Cheng7College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaZhejiang Tianpeng Group Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324014, ChinaZhejiang Tianpeng Group Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324014, ChinaZhejiang Tianpeng Group Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324014, ChinaZhejiang Tianpeng Group Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324014, ChinaZhejiang Tianpeng Group Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324014, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaThis study investigated the effects of a low-protein diet without soybean meal on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma-free amino acids, and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 81 barrows and 81 gilts ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) of 150 days old with similar body weights (103.64 ± 3.65 kg) were selected and randomly allocated into three groups with three replicates in each group and 18 finishing pigs in each pen (4.5 m × 8.5 m). Three dietary formulations were established in this experiment: (1) 14% crude protein, and 14% soybean meal for the control group diet (CON); (2) 13% crude protein, and 7% soybean meal for half soybean meal group diet (HSB); (3) 12% crude protein, and 0% soybean meal for soybean meal free group diet (SBF). Three groups of diets were equal to standard ileal digestible amino acids and swine net energy. Results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in final body weight, average daily feed intake, and average daily gain in CON, HSB, and SBF groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, the feed conversion rate was higher in the SBF but the differences were not significant (<i>p</i> = 0.08). (2) Compared with the CON group, the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and calcium in the SBF group was significantly increased by 6.42%, 4.78%, and 9.82%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). However, ether extract and phosphorus did not differ significantly between the three groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). All groups had no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes (<i>p</i> > 0.05). (3) Compared with the CON group, the plasma-free contents of glycine and glutamate in the HSB and SBF groups were significantly decreased by 42.90% and 37.06%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the contents of plasma-free histidine and valine in the SBF group were significantly decreased by 16.72% and 16.21%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the HSB group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Compared with the CON group, plasma-free isoleucine content in the HSB group was significantly decreased by 50.39% (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the SBF group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). (4) Backfat thickness in the SBF group was significantly increased by 3.53% compared with that in the CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the HSB group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Compared with the CON group, lean meat percentage in the HSB and SBF groups showed a tendency to increase and decrease, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.09). (5) The urine ammonia-nitrogen content of finishing pigs in the SBF group was significantly lower than that of the CON (<i>p</i> < 0.05), at a rate of 28.80%. H<sub>2</sub>S content in the urine of the SBF group tended to decrease (<i>p</i> = 0.06). This study demonstrates that a low-protein diet without soybean meal can be applied as a dietary strategy for finishing pigs with no adverse influence on growth performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/828low-protein dietsoybean mealgrowth performancenitrogen utilizationmeat qualityfinishing pigs
spellingShingle Bobo Deng
Litong Wang
Xiaomei Jiang
Tianyong Zhang
Mingfei Zhu
Guoshui Wang
Yizhen Wang
Yuanzhi Cheng
Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs
Animals
low-protein diet
soybean meal
growth performance
nitrogen utilization
meat quality
finishing pigs
title Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs
title_full Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs
title_fullStr Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs
title_short Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs
title_sort effects of low protein diet without soybean meal on growth performance nutrient digestibility plasma free amino acids and meat quality of finishing pigs
topic low-protein diet
soybean meal
growth performance
nitrogen utilization
meat quality
finishing pigs
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/6/828
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